November 18, 2025
TEMPLETON, Calif. — A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck California's Central Coast on Tuesday morning, sending a sharp jolt across the region and rattling nerves from Salinas down to Lompoc.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the temblor occurred at 9:45 a.m. Pacific Time. The epicenter was pinpointed near the town of Templeton in San Luis Obispo County, a region situated near the notorious San Andreas Fault.
While no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries emerged, the shaking was felt distinctly across a wide area. Residents from Monterey County in the north to Santa Barbara County in the south took to social media to describe the sudden tremor, which lasted for several seconds.
The quake's coastal proximity immediately raised concerns about a potential tsunami. However, authorities were quick to allay those fears. The USGS promptly issued a statement confirming there was "No Tsunami Warning, Advisory, Watch, or Threat." The event was monitored as far away as Canada, where officials in British Columbia also informed citizens that there was no tsunami threat to their coastline.
The earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the seismic tension running beneath the Golden State. Templeton is located near the San Andreas Fault, the primary plate boundary responsible for California's most powerful earthquakes.
“The San Andreas Fault can generate the region's largest magnitude earthquakes (up to about M8.2),” the USGS has stated. The agency notes that the last "Big One" on this fault in Southern California was the devastating M7.9 Fort Tejon earthquake of 1857.
Following Tuesday's tremor, the USGS issued a forecast for potential aftershocks, placing the probability of a magnitude 3 or higher earthquake in the next week at 21 percent. The chance of a stronger quake, magnitude 4 or higher, in the same timeframe is estimated at three percent.
For many residents, the morning jolt was a familiar but unsettling experience, prompting calls for readiness and a review of household earthquake safety plans.